United Airlines CEO—who made $32 million last year—calls for a national wealth tax and a near-100% inheritance tax: 'I would pay them' | Fortune

Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, received a total compensation of $32.3 million last year, which is approximately 334 times greater than what the average employee at the company earned. In light of this disparity, Kirby has expressed his belief that the wealthiest individuals in the United States should contribute more to the tax system, including a potential inheritance tax that could be as high as 100% for certain estates.

Kirby’s comments align him with other affluent business figures, such as Bill Gates and Salesforce’s Marc Benioff, who have advocated for increased taxation on the wealthy. In an interview with the New York Times, Kirby stated, “Wealth inequality has become a danger to our society, and we need to address that.” He further elaborated, “We should have a national wealth tax—it won’t work by state because people will just move. And I think we should have inheritance taxes that get close to 100% at some level. I would pay them.”

These remarks were made in response to concerns regarding diminishing public trust in corporate leaders. Kirby's substantial earnings serve as a vivid example of the economic divide he highlighted. His reported compensation package for 2025, detailed in United's proxy statement, included a base salary of $1.2 million, stock awards totaling $22.6 million, $8 million in non-equity incentive compensation, and approximately $500,000 in other benefits. In contrast, the median compensation for United’s employees was reported at $96,670.

This pay gap reflects a broader trend noted in a study by the International Trade Union Confederation and Oxfam, which found that CEO compensation increased by 11% in 2025, while worker pay saw only a 0.5% rise. In the Dallas area, where Kirby resides, United recently advertised a part-time customer service representative position at an hourly wage of $19.64. If someone were to work full-time at this wage, it would take nearly 790 years of continuous employment to earn the same amount Kirby did in 2025, assuming no increases in pay or additional incentives.

Kirby’s call for tax reform comes amid a growing wealth gap in the U.S. Data from the Federal Reserve indicates that the wealthiest 1% of American households held 32.5% of the country’s total net worth in the second quarter of 2026—up from 31.1% the previous year. Meanwhile, the bottom half of households collectively possessed just 2.3% of the nation’s wealth, a slight decrease from 2.4% the year before.

Other industry leaders have recognized the backlash against wealth inequality. For example, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon acknowledged in July the rising anti-wealth sentiment in some communities, and a recent survey revealed that one in five Americans believes it is morally wrong to be a billionaire.

However, not everyone has embraced Kirby’s perspective. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry responded to Kirby's statements on social media, suggesting that if Kirby is so committed to addressing wealth inequality, he could simply make a donation to the U.S. Treasury to help reduce the national debt.

Kirby did not provide details on the specific thresholds for his proposed national wealth tax or the inheritance tax rates he envisions. Currently, the U.S. does not have a federal inheritance tax, although several states impose their own. The federal estate tax, which is levied on the estate itself rather than the heirs, has a top marginal rate of 40% and a basic exclusion amount of $15 million for individuals who pass away in 2026, according to IRS guidelines.

Kirby, who has been with United since 2016 and became CEO in 2020, has also garnered attention for his interest in possibly acquiring American Airlines. Fortune reached out to United Airlines to inquire whether Kirby believes the disparity in pay between CEOs and their employees contributes to the inequality he discussed, as well as what specific tax thresholds and rates he would advocate for. The airline did not provide a response to these questions.